Feed mechanism

ABSTRACT

A reciprocating workpiece feed mechanism includes a slide mounted for forward and rearward reciprocating movement along a longitudinal axis. A workpiece engaging finger is movably mounted on the slide for movement along said longitudinal axis between a forward workpiece engaging position and a rearward inoperative position. A releasable holding device releasably holds the finger in its forward position during reciprocating movement of the slide. The releasable holding device is operative for automatically releasing the finger for movement to its inoperative position under action of a predetermined force applied to the finger acting along said longitudinal axis during forward movement of the slide.

[ 51 May 22, 1973 (54] FEED MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Arthur Thomas Mueller, Hastings,

Mich.

[731 Assignee: Guli & Western Industrial Products Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

221 Filed: July 16,1971

211 Appl.No.: 163,320

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane Attorney-James H. Tilberry et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A reciprocating workpiece feed mechanism includes a slide mounted for forward and rearward reciprocating movement along a longitudinal axis. A workpiece engaging finger is movably mounted on the slide for movement along said longitudinal axis between a forward workpiece engaging position and a rearward inoperative position. A releasable holding device releasably holds the finger in its forward position during reciprocating movement of the slide. The releasable holding device is operative for automatically releasing the finger for movement to its inoperative position under action of a predetermined force applied to the finger acting along said longitudinal axis during forward movement of the slide.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FIG.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 22, 1973 rlllllvllll] I I I T 4 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR THOMAS MUELLER BY Maya, 7160 Z'Baclq ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR THOMAS MUELLER Meqm,7d$wq 8 Bad;

ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1973 3,734,265

3 Shasta-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR THOMAS MUELLER BY Mega/p, 7M 8 80d ATTORNEYS FEED MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application pertains to the art of feed mechanisms and more particularly to reciprocating workpiece feed mechanisms. The invention is particularly applicable to use with a press and will be described with particular reference thereto although it will be appreciated that the invention has broader aspects and may be used in other workpiece feeding situations.

Conventional feed mechanisms include a reciprocating slide having a workpiece engaging finger. The slide reciprocates and the finger engages workpieces during forward movement of the slide for transferring workpieces to a rotatable dial which carries the workpieces through a work station of a press.

In devices of this type, damage can occur to the reciprocating feed mechanism or to the dial if a workpiece becomes jammed. This results in expensive down time for the machinery while repairs are made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A feed mechanism of the type described has the finger member movably mounted on the slide for movement between a forward workpiece engaging position in a rearward inoperative position. Releasable holding means normally holds the finger in its forward workpiece engaging position during reciprocating movement of the slide. In the event a workpiece becomes jammed, the releasable holding means is operative to automatically release the finger for movement to its rearward inoperative position under action of the force applied to the finger by the jammed workpiece during forward reciprocating movement of the slide.

In a preferred arrangement, the finger member is detachably secured to a finger holder member. Movable catch means mounted on the slide is resiliently biased against detent means on the finger holder member to define the releasable holding means.

In accordance with another aspect of the device, a handle member is secured in upstanding position to the finger holder member so that it can be manually grasped for unjamming the reciprocating feed mechanism.

In accordance with another aspect of the device, the biasing means which biases the catch means into engagement with the detent means is adjustable in order to vary the force with which the finger is held in its forward workpiece engaging position. With this arrangement, it is possible to vary the predetermined force which must be applied to the finger by ajammed workpiece before the finger moves to its rearward inoperative position. In one arrangement, the releasable holding means includes balls which are spring-biased against detents on the finger holder member. The force with which the balls are biased against the detents is variable by adjusting the spring force.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating feed mechanism which cannot be damaged by jamming of a workpiece.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved reciprocating feed mechanism which is very simple in construction and operation.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved reciprocating feed mechanism which is easily reset after a jammed workpiece has been cleared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention may take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved feed mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational and partial sectional view looking generally in the direction of arrows 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in the direction of arrows 44 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows reciprocating feed mechanism A for feeding workpieces B to circumferentially-spaced stations 12 on a rotatably indexed dial C which carries workpieces B past the work station of a press. Workpieces B are discharged at an ejecting station D in a known manner. A rotatable shaft 14 is suitably mounted to a frame portion 16 of the press as by bearing 18 and drivingly connected with a right angle drive unit E for rotatably indexing dial C in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. Shaft 14 is driven as by a belt or chain 20 which is drivingly connected with the press crankshaft and with a pulley or sprocket 22 on shaft 14.

Reciprocating mechanism A includes a frame member F having an elongated channel 26 formed therein. A pair of spaced-apart elongated metal wear strips 28 and 30 are secured to the bottom of elongated channel 26 as by suitable screws, only two of which are shown at 29 for wear member 28 in FIG. 4. An elongated slide member G is received in channel 26 and slidably rests on wear strips 28 and 30. A pair of elongated gibs 32 are secured to frame member G as by bolts 34 for slidably holding slide member G on wear strips 28 and 30. The opposite side edges of slide member G slope inwardly from the bottom surface to the top surface thereof and gibs 32 have correspondingly sloping inner edges. Slide member G is reciprocatingly movable along longitudinal axis 38 of FIG. 1 in a forward direction toward dial C and in a rearward direction away from dial C along wear strips 28 and 30, and gibs 32.

In one arrangement, shaft 14 has a sprocket 40 drivingly engaged with chain 42 which in turn engages a sprocket 44 on input shaft 46 of right angle drive unit 48. Right angle drive unit 48 has an output shaft 50 on which a cam member 52 is secured as by a set screw 54. Carn member 52 has an eccentric programmed cam track 56 formed therein for receiving a cam follower 58 which is secured to the rear portion of slide G. A substantially L-shaped bracket 60 is secured to the rear portion of slide G as by bolts 62. Cam follower member 58 has a sleeve portion 64 extending through a sleeve bearing 68 in bracket 60. A nut 70 is threaded onto the threaded upper end portion of sleeve 64 for holding cam follower member 58 to bracket 60. Rotation of cam 52 causes slide member G to reciprocate toward and away from dial C because cam follower 58 follows the program trace of cam track 56.

In one arrangement, a finger means attached to slide G for movement therewith includes a finger member H and a finger holder member I. Finger member H is detachably secured to finger holder member I as by bolts 74.

Slide member G has an elongated channel 78 of substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape formed in the top surface thereof. Channel 78 slidably receives finger holder member I for movement of finger holder member I along longitudinal axis 38 relative to slide member G. A pair of elongated brackets 80 are secured to slide member G on opposite sides of channel 78 as by bolts 82. Brackets 80 include horizontal portions 84 which project over the upper side edges of finger holder member I. Each horizontal portion 84 has a pair of longitudinally spaced threaded holes therethrough for threadedly receiving screws 86. Each screw 86 has a cylindrical bore 88 formed therein for receiving a coil spring 90 and a ball 92. A nut 94 is threaded onto the upper end of screw 86 for locking screw 86 in adjusted position relative to horizontal portion 84 of bracket 80. The opposite side portions of finger holder member I each have a pair of longitudinally spaced holes therein for receiving ball detent buttons 98. Ball detent buttons 98 may be press fit or threaded into the holes in finger holder member I. Each ball detent button 98 has a recessed upper surface 102 in which ball 92 is received. The longitudinal spacing of ball detent buttons 98 corresponds to the spacing of screws 86 and balls 92 on each bracket member 80. The balls and ball detents define a releasable holding means for normally holding finger holder member I and finger member H in a forward workpiece engaging and transferring position relative to slide member G. The normal position for finger holder member I and finger member H is shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In operation of the device, workpieces B are fed through a guide 104 to a load station 108 when finger member H is in its rearward retracted position. Workpieces B may be fed through guide 104 to the load station in any conventional manner as by a rotating table or oscillating arm such as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,282,959 to Gibbs. With slide G in its rearmost position, workpiece engaging forward end portion 106 of finger member H is rearward of load station 108 so that a workpiece B may be shifted thereto. Upon forward reciprocating movement of slide G, workpiece engaging forward end portion 106 of finger member H engages a workpiece B and transfers workpiece B to a station 12 on dial C. Dial C is rotatably indexed while slide G on finger l-I continuously reciprocates to transfer successive workpieces B to each successive station 12 of dial C. In the event of a malfunction in the equipment, as when a workpiece B becomes jammed at load station 108 or does not properly transfer into a station 12 of dial C, the forward reciprocating force of feed mechanism A could cause damage to mechanism A or to dial C. With the arrangement of the present invention, such a jammed workpiece will exert a predetermined force on workpiece engaging end portion 106 of finger H during forward reciprocating movement 'of' slide G toward dial C. This predetermined force will cause springs 90 to compress so that balls 92 can ride up out of recesses 102 in ball detent buttons 98. This will then allow rearward movement of finger holder member I and finger member H relative to slide G so that no damage can occur to the equipment. Once the jammed workpiece has been freed, a workman can manually grasp an upright handle member 112, which is suitably secure to finger holder member I as by bolt 1 14, to again push finger holder member I forward relative to slide member G until balls 92 again engage against ball detent buttons 98. This movement of finger H and finger holder member I to a rearward inoperative position prevents damage to any equipment in the event a workpiece becomes jammed, and the feed mechanism is easily reset simply by pushing on handle member 112 once the jammed condition has been corrected.

The releasable holding means defined by the spring loaded balls and cooperating ball detent buttons can be adjusted simply by loosening nuts 94 so that screws 86 can be rotated to increase or decrease the force with which springs 90 force balls 92 against recesses 102 in ball detent buttons 98. With this arrangement, it is possible to vary the predetermined force which is necessary to shift finger holder member I and finger member H rearwardly to the inoperative position so that a user of the equipment may select his own desirable operating arrangement. In the preferred arrangement, there are a total of four balls and ball detents, two on each side of finger holder member I, to provide a larger range of variable forces with which finger holder member I is normally held in its forward working position relative to slide G. It will be recognized that a greater or lesser number of such ball detents may be provided to further vary the adjustability of the holding force.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A reciprocating workpiece feed mechanism comprising; slide guide means for guiding a slide in reciprocating movement, slide means mounted on said slide guide means for forward and rearward reciprocating movement along a longitudinal axis, workpiece engaging finger means movably mounted on said slide means for movement relative to said slide means along said longitudinal axis between a forward workpiece engaging and transferring position and a rearward inoperative position, said finger means having a workpiece en: gaging end portion, releasable holding means for releasably holding said finger means in said forward position during reciprocating movement of said slide means, said releasable holding means being operative for automatically releasing said finger means for movement to said inoperative position under action of a predetermined force applied to said end portion of said finger means acting along said longitudinal axis during forward reciprocating movement of said slide means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said slide means defines a first structure member and said finger means defines a second structure member, said releasable holding means comprising detent means on one of said structure members and movable catch means on the other of said structure members, and resilient biasing means for biasing said catch means against said detent means.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said finger means includes a finger member and a finger holder member, said finger member being detachably secured to said holder member.

4. The device of claim 3 and further including a bandle member upstanding from said holder member.

5. The device of claim 1 and further including a handle member upstanding from said finger means.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said slide means has a rear portion, cam follower means projecting downward from said rear portion, and rotatable cam means having a cam track receiving said cam follower means for reciprocating said slide means during rotation of said cam means.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said releasable holding means includes bracket members secured to said slide means on opposite sides of said finger means and projecting over said finger means, catch means mounted for substantially vertical movement on said bracket members, detent means on said finger means, and resilient means for biasing said catch means against said detent means.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said finger means includes a finger member and a finger holder member, and said detent means being on said finger holder memher.

9. The device of claim 8 and further including a handle member upstanding from said holder member.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said slide means has a rear portion, cam follower means projecting downward from said rear portion, and rotatable cam means having a cam track receiving said cam follower means for reciprocating said slide means during rotation of said cam means.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said releasable holding means includes adjustment means for adjusting the force with which said finger means is releasably held in said forward position whereby said predetermined force applied to said end portion of said finger means for moving said finger means to said inoperative position is variable.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said releasable holding means includes at least two balls movably mounted on said slide on each side of said finger means, a plurality of detents on said finger means, and spring members biasing said balls against said detents, and said adjustment means being operative for varying the force with which said springs bias said balls against said detents.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said finger means includes a finger member and a finger holder member, said finger member being detachably secured to said holder member, and said detents being on said holder member.

14. The device of claim 13 and further including a handle member upstanding from said holder member. 

1. A reciprocating workpiece feed mechanism comprising; slide guide means for guiding a slide in reciprocating movement, slide means mounted on said slide guide means for forward and rearward reciprocating movement along a longitudinal axis, workpiece engaging finger means movably mounted on said slide means for movement relative to said slide means along said longitudinal axis between a forward workpiece engaging and transferring position and a rearward inoperative position, said finger means having a workpiece engaging end portion, releasable holding means for releasably holding said finger means in said forward position during reciprocating movement of said slide means, said releasable holding means being operative for automatically releasing said finger means for movement to said inoperative position under action of a predetermined force applied to said end portion of said finger means acting along said longitudinal axis during forward reciprocating movement of said slide means.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said slide means defines a first structure member and said finger means defines a second structure member, said releasable holding means comprising detent means on one of said structure members and movable catch means on the other of said structure members, and resilient biasing means for biasing said catch means against said detent means.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said finger means includes a finger member and a finger holder member, said finger member being detachably secured to said holder member.
 4. The device of claim 3 and further including a handle member upstanding from said holder member.
 5. The device of claim 1 and further including a handle member upstanding from said finger means.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said slide means has a rear portion, cam follower means projecting downward from said rear portion, and rotatable cam means having a cam track receiving said cam follower means for reciprocating said slide means during rotation of said cam means.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said releasable holding means includes bracket members secured to said slide means on opposite sides of said finger means and projecting over said finger means, catch means mounted for substantially vertical movement on said bracket members, detent means on said finger means, and resilient means for biasing said catch means against said detent means.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said finger means includes a finger member and a finger holder member, and said detent means being on said finger holder member.
 9. The device of claim 8 and further includIng a handle member upstanding from said holder member.
 10. The device of claim 8 wherein said slide means has a rear portion, cam follower means projecting downward from said rear portion, and rotatable cam means having a cam track receiving said cam follower means for reciprocating said slide means during rotation of said cam means.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein said releasable holding means includes adjustment means for adjusting the force with which said finger means is releasably held in said forward position whereby said predetermined force applied to said end portion of said finger means for moving said finger means to said inoperative position is variable.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein said releasable holding means includes at least two balls movably mounted on said slide on each side of said finger means, a plurality of detents on said finger means, and spring members biasing said balls against said detents, and said adjustment means being operative for varying the force with which said springs bias said balls against said detents.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said finger means includes a finger member and a finger holder member, said finger member being detachably secured to said holder member, and said detents being on said holder member.
 14. The device of claim 13 and further including a handle member upstanding from said holder member. 